I'm a Libertarian living in Humboldt County, CA. I've lived here in Eureka since 1973 and joined the Libertarian Party in 1992. This blog will mostly focus on local political issues, but I may stray into state and national issues as well, when I can't help myself. Please post your comments by clicking on the "comments" link at the bottom of each post. Although I do moderate comments, you need not be a registered user to post them.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Is Glass Like Gas In Humboldt?

Anybody ever have a window on their car replaced outside of Humboldt County? I'm wondering if it's any cheaper than having it done here.

The side rear window on the wife's Geo Metro got shattered a week or so ago. Unknown just how it happened. About the only shopping around I did to find a replacement was calling the auto wrecking yard out on Jacob's Avenue, in Eureka, to see if they had a used one. They didn't.

So I called K&M Glass to see if they had one. They didn't but could order one and it would cost something like $260 installed. Yipes! That much for just a small window? Oh well. I went ahead and had them order it.

It came in after a few days and Connie takes the car in only to have them tell her they needed a seal, or some such, and would have to order that. I believe they said the seal would cost an additional $160, or thereabouts.

This is getting ridiculous, I'm thinking. All this for just a small window? I couldn't help but wonder if we pay more for some things up here, just like we do for gas.

Just out of curiousity I tried seeing if I could get some estimates online from various places around the state. No luck. I found some auto glass places but none had any of those spiffy online programs where you could get an immediate quote.*********Years ago vandals broke two windows on my old Ford Ranger pick up. That cost me $400 out of my own pocket to buy the replacements at K&M Glass and install them myself.

Some time later vandals once again broke one of the windows on my truck. Someone suggest I try the wrecking yard for a used window. Great suggestion. I ended up buying a window for $40- a bit cheaper than the $200 I paid before.

But, sometimes our small wrecking yard doesn't have what you need. In fact, from the size of that place, I'm surprised they nearly always have what I do need.

But what about these prices up here? Are they higher than elsewhere? I suppose one could say there's no competition, but there are a few different glass places listed in the Yellow Pages. Maybe this is part of The Conspiracy, those glass folks working together with Da' Man to put us all down?

17 Comments:

Anybody ever have a window on their car replaced outside of Humboldt County? I'm wondering if it's any cheaper than having it done here.

The side rear window on the wife's Geo Metro got shattered a week or so ago. Unknown just how it happened. About the only shopping around I did to find a replacement was calling the auto wrecking yard out on Jacob's Avenue, in Eureka, to see if they had a used one. They didn't.

Had to get the front window of my Jeep repaired a few years ago down south. Jeep Wrangler = Flat Winshield. Call all around, every one was exactly $200. So had the mobile guys come do it in my driveway for $200. At least it saved me gas $$...hehehe

Woohoo. Sounds like a bargain! Problem is, I don't trust the wife's car to make that long a drive. I might look into seeing if I can order a window from them and having it shipped here next time a window is needed.

Or, if nothing else, pick the window up on the way back from San Francisco.

Done Deal now. Picked her car up at K&M Glass yesterday afternoon. Nice work, but just under $400 for a window that's probably around two foot high and no more than two and a half feet wide at the bottom.

Carol wrote, "that they should have quoted you the price of labor as well.".

They did, I guess. They said something like $160 for the window, $260 installed- so that makes $100 for labor. I really don't have a problem with the labor costs, just the window, although I'd love to shave the labor costs as well.

Redding Auto Center 800-424-2400 and it is called Viking or something else now-is probably cheaper and they have a much bigger inventory. They also deliver. You are a handy fellow Fred-can't you take off a door panel and replace the glass yourself? You'd be able to tell about the seal yourself and IF its actually necessary you'd notice right away.

This is a two door metro, so there's no door to take the panel off of on the rear seats.

I've taken door panels off to replace windows on my old Ford Ranger, but I could never get them back on right again after I took them off. Not only that, but I could never get the windows in right, either, although I did it well enough for an old rust bucket like that.

Besides being lazy, I'm not all that competent as a do- it- yourselfer.